The Beaminster Area Team
From The Hub Covid – 19 Weekly Update Friday 6th November, 2020
Jo and I have spent most of the week pouring over all the daily changes to the government guidelines regarding worship and especially the daily shifts in advice on this Sunday, Remembrance Sunday. Whilst they recognise the importance of a national remembrance, the Government is discouraging large gatherings. I am grateful to those parishes who are helping their communities to take part in remembering without gathering and there will be an act of remembrance led by Jo Neary and Rev Chris Luckcraft as our weekly online worship. I have sent as an additional attachment the full government guidelines for Sunday.
The Church of England’s new best friend – The Daily Telegraph – is heavily critical of the lockdown effect on Sunday Worship and I have reflected hard and long on this. As a local faith leader and leader of worship I feel that the church has a moral responsibility to stand alongside and share the pain of those local businesses and individuals who are at the forefront of lockdown. My eldest daughter calls me almost every day in tears because she has just made people redundant, as the company she is head of human resources for, is no longer viable in some areas of its business.
I am pleased that this time our churches can remain open for our communities to use for their private devotions and I would ask that, where possible, all of our churches make this work. As with lockdown 1.0 we are not able to gather on Sundays to give praise to God together, but we can join together in the full power of the Holy Spirit from the comfort of our armchairs in doing so and in God’s time four Sundays are but the blink of an eye.
I am aware that Robin Musson has written to treasurers this week to inform them that he can no longer continue as Team Treasurer due to his loss of sight following a recent mini stroke. I am very grateful to Brian Ridley for taking over this role at very short notice. Robin has been Team Treasurer for seventeen years and a friend to all of the churches in the team. Please hold Robin and Jo in your prayers over the coming days.
Please remember that you can call me at any time if you need help or advice during this time.
David
Welcome to Lockdown 2.0. Just a reminder of what is available online. The easiest way to find everything is on this website.
Worship at home – an act of worship for every week, led by laity and clergy from the team, reflecting the seasons and Christian festivals and including music from musicians of St Martin in the Fields. This week it is an act of worship for Remembrance Sunday.
Zoom coffee – Sundays at 10am, gather on Zoom for a chat, a coffee and a chance to reflect on the sermon if you watched it and what has been going on for us all during the week. The Zoom link is here and it is the same link for every Sunday. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87498465903?pwd=YnlIUlEzMWtGb1dud3IvZVhoOXdXQT09
Zoom prayers every Thursday evening at 7pm, a chance to pray for new things in our team. The Zoom link is the same every week. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83790192133?pwd=bWVsM0J2MnFWRnhsNnhTRXVPOGkzUT09
New for lockdown 2.0 is Gin church, Thursday evenings at 8pm. A chance to chat, reflect on a passage of scripture and pray together. Open to people who may be new to church or are part of our communities but interested in talking about faith. Get in contact with Jo if you would like to know more.
There are daily reflections on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
As David has said, if you want something we aren’t providing then please let us know what you would like and we will see if we can provide it.
Please phone if you need to chat, need support or want us to pray for you.
Every blessing,
Jo
2020-11-06-Weekly-Sheet